World's hottest chilli contest leaves two in hospital
A curry house is under fire after its 'world's hottest chilli' competition landed two people in hospital.
Competitors who had entered Edinburgh restaurant Kismot's curry-eating challenge started writhing on the floor in agony, vomiting and fainting.
One customer, Curie Kim - whose first name is pronounced 'curry' - was so unwell after sampling the 'Kismot Killer' dish that she had to be taken by ambulance to hospital twice in a few hours suffering from stomach pains, vomiting and acid indigestion.
Even though two members of the British Red Cross were on hand, they could not cope with the nature of the injuries sustained.
The restaurant's website describes the competition as 'not a contest to see who can eat the most, but a test of endurance against a top secret nuclear strength recipe using some of the world's hottest chillies.'
Today, the Scottish Ambulance Service said it wanted the restaurant to review the way the event was managed.
Paramedics attended the restaurant on Saturday - the busiest day of the week for the ambulance service - at a cost of several hundred pounds.
Curry house owner Abdul Ali admitted that he would have to 'tone down' the contest in future.
Half of the 20 people who took part in the challenge dropped out after witnessing the first ten diners vomiting, collapsing, sweating and panting.
In previous years, the Kismot Killer dish has caused diners to suffer nose bleeds and one elderly man had to be taken to hospital.
She said: 'I've always enjoyed spicy foods and thought this was for a good cause. But it came with a price, I had to be taken to the hospital twice.
'It got really bad. I have never endured such pain in my life.'
Mr Ali said he felt the competition had gone well, but that he had overestimated how much heat the competitors could take.
Beverly Jones, from Newington, was crowned curry queen after she managed to finish nine spoonfuls of the chilli-filled dish.
Mike Lavin, from Polwarth, came fifth, but he, too, had to be taken to hospital.
The competition raised hundreds of pounds for the Children’s Hospice Association Scotland charity, Mr Ali said.
But local councillor Gordon Mackenzie branded the event a 'shambles'.
He said: 'The owners owe a debt to the ambulance service, and I hope they'll find some way of making it up to them.'
A spokesman for the Scottish Ambulance Service said: 'We would urge the organisers to review the way in which this event is managed in future in order to avoid another situation where emergency ambulances are required to treat their customers.'
Kismot is well-known in Edinburgh for its bizarre menu creations including marshmallow naan bread, vindaloo ice-cream and chocolate curry.
Source: dailymail
